network tnt brought it back with a new generation of ewings and hagman came back, too, returning as j.r. once again. critics say he was the best thing about "dallas," but explaining the characteristic character's appeal he once said the time is right for a real bad guy, and i'm it. >> have a good day, master. >> i'm going to have a wonderful day. >> it was a good guy who larry hagman blasted into people's living rooms playing astronaut tony nelson on "i dream of jeannie." the show was a hit in the '60s and is still popular in syndication. even as a kid, hagman orbited in show biz as the son of "peter pan" star mary martin, his movie roles included "up the cellular" and harry and it on the toe. >> i don't need an office anymore. >> it was only after milking a huge contract from the producers of "dallas" that hagman became immensely wealthy. he had houses, cars, he had advices. two of them included drinking and smoking. he smoked for 24 years, gave it up and became an anti-smoking activist and spokesman for the american cancer society. >> i met at least 30 or 40 people that said they quit